JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

How much are we going to miss Etienne? Are the new running backs even close to his talent?

This is a critical question entering the 2026 regular season, with the Jaguars allowing running back Travis Etienne Jr. to hit free agency and later signing with the New Orleans Saints as an unrestricted free agent this past March. The Jaguars almost certainly will miss Etienne, their leading rusher and leading touchdown scorer in 2025. I expect they will miss his breakaway and playmaking ability. I expect they will very much miss him as a receiver. He is very good in that role, and how the Jaguars replace that will be a key storyline in training camp into the regular season. The belief around the Jaguars is whatever they miss about Etienne can be countered by the multiple strengths of backs such as Chris Rodriguez Jr., Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr., etc. Tuten has speed and strength to be productive in multiple roles – including as a big-play player. Rodriguez's efficiency as a runner could improve the offense's efficiency. Allen may be a more capable runner/receiver than he had the opportunity to show as a rookie last season. How much are the Jaguars going to miss Etienne? The Jaguars believe the answer is a lot less than many observers believe. Stay tuned.

Woody from Dunlap

KOAF. It appears the Jaguars are deep at multiple positions, including defensive end/edge, wide receiver and tight end. Some of these talented players will not make the 53-man roster, so will be offered spots on the practice squad. Can practice squad contracts bind a player to remain with the Jaguars, or are all practice squad players allowed to sign with another team if so offered? Are the players' agents allowed to actively shop their clients to other NFL teams once their client signs a contract to be on the practice squad? Can players who sign a practice squad contract be given financial or non-financial incentives over and above the standard salary ranges mandated by the NFL?

Many questions, a few answers. Practice-squad players are free agents, so they are free to sign with other teams. NFL scouting/personnel departments constantly monitor the entire league, which means agents don't need to "shop" their players. Finally … yes, teams can pay practice squad players increased salaries and bonuses to keep them from signing elsewhere. This is rare because players want to play, though it's a bit more common now because practice squads have been expanded with standard elevations common. All of this has made practice squad players more part of the roster – and more important – than was previously the case.

Paul from Saint Augustine, FL

There was a time when power rankings had a use. Now that they're mostly digital instead of newsprint, they are much less effective as birdcage liner.

Fair.

James from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville

Mr. O. Just my opinion and it is not worth much. I have to go with the big Viking and his Norway teammates to win the World Cup. If there ever was a more Viking looking-character, I'm not sure there is one. So … Go Norway. I would love to see him beat the drums a couple more times.

I will say yet again that I know enough about soccer – or, as Mrs. O-Zone now calls it, "futbol" – to know I don't know much about soccer. I do sometimes know cool and fun when I see them, even though I am neither. The World Cup is cool. And fun. The Norway team, which will play England Saturday in a World Cup quarterfinal, is cool and fun. There might be nothing more fun and cool in the entire fun and cool event than Norway star Erling Haaland – a.k.a., the Striking Viking. One fer the Striking Viking? Absolutely. I don't expect Norway to win the tournament, but it would be cool.

Dan from Madrid

Hi, Zone. What is going to happen to the grass fields at stadiums being used for the World Cup that typically have artificial turf? Are they changing it back? I was surprised to see that MetLife stadium even has irrigation system installed for the fake grass.

The NFL stadiums that usually have artificial turf and are using grass for the World Cup are expected to return to artificial turf upon completion of the World Cup.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Who's the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 67?

Another day, another number. Possibilities here include guard Vince Manuwai (2003-2010), guard Jeff Novak (1995-1998) and guard Austin Pasztor (2012-2014). Manuwai is the pretty easy selection.

Misba_h2761 from Dondaicha

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Jaguars 2026 Training Camp is expected to begin July 28, with quarterbacks reporting to the Miller Electric Center July 25.

Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL

While we sometimes talk sports here in the Grammar Zone, I have a question that lies at the intersection of the two. In World Cup reporting this week, the headlines use plural verb forms with the singular noun of the nation being reported on (e.g. "Were Egypt..." instead of "was," and "Argentina overturn..." instead of "overturns"). I don't ever recall this trend in football reporting, unless referring to the team by the plural nickname (e.g. "Jaguars win" versus "Jacksonville wins"). Is this grammatical trend with soccer-specific reporting a result of foreign grammar rules being applied to coverage of a foreign sport? Or have I, along with all domestic football reporters, been speaking improperly this whole time?

My understanding of this, which was kinda sorta confirmed with extensive research (read: google), is that using the plural verb form for a country's team is more acceptable in "British English" as opposed to American English, with national teams being considered "collective nouns." I assume this bleeds over to American announcing and reporting on the event because it's common in international soccer – or, as Mrs. O-Zone calls it, "futbol" – coverage. I also suspect there's some laziness and inconsistency involved, as are often the case when it comes to grammar.

Richard from Jacksonville

Let's list the best Jaguars player from every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school (in alphabetical order). Àir Force: Chad Hall.

Tune in next offseason.

JAY from THE BURG FL.

One technique on defense we really seemed to improve on last season was defensive linemen getting their hands up and affecting the passing lanes and quarterback timing. None bigger in Jaguars history than nose tackle DaVon Hamilton's game winner in overtime against the Las Vegas Raiders. It seems we have drafted players with a natural ability to this effect. More hands up leads to more sacks, more interceptions, more stalled drives, more frustration for a quarterback. It's the thread you keep pulling to unravel an offense. It's an acquired skill, an intuition like punching the ball out to create turnovers. Like one hand washing the other, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense will become sharper in the pocket also. It feels like this will become a main focus going forward.

Jaguars defensive players did a nice job of this last season under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. It certainly won the Raiders game, as you noted. I don't know that deflecting passes at the line of scrimmage is going to be a "main focus," but being good at that skill doesn't hurt.

DMiz from Jagsonville

I am bummed that we came to an end of this "best player A-Z game." That was actually lots of fun, interesting and entertaining. As such, who's the best player that starts with AA?

DMiz's got jokes, too.

Lane from Winter Garden, FL

Zone. Are you glad you grew up in the late 70s/early 80s? If you weren't born when you were, what era would you have liked to have been born in? I was born in 1970 and wouldn't change my birth year for anything. I enjoyed the late 70s and all of the 80s and 90s before getting married and having kids. What say you?

I mostly enjoyed growing up when I did, bullying and loneliness notwithstanding. This is largely because I have fond memories of people with whom I grew up. This is particularly true of a core group of friends from Arlington and attending what is now Episcopal School of Jacksonville. Had I been born in another time, that also would have meant knowing different people and perhaps having a different path. Would I have met Mrs. Ozone? Would there be a Junior O-Zone? Would I have become a sportswriter? Would there even be an O-Zone? And were there no O-Zone, what would have been the fate of O-Zone readers? Would their lives be so full and rich as they are now? I think not, and I think most O-Zone readers would agree that I came along at the perfect time. Right? Right? Bueller? Bueller?